Jerusalem is called the City of David because it was the city that King David conquered and made the capital of the united kingdom of Israel in around 1000 BC. David was the second king of Israel and is considered one of the most important figures in Jewish history. Under his rule, Israel grew into a regional power and he laid the foundations for the future kingdom of Israel and Judah. Let’s explore in more detail why Jerusalem is known as the City of David.
David Conquered Jerusalem and Made it His Capital
When David became king over all Israel, Jerusalem was still a Jebusite city that had not yet been conquered (2 Samuel 5:6-7). The Jebusites taunted David saying he would not be able to capture the city, which was built on a hill and had strong defenses. But David led his troops to victory and captured the fortress of Zion in Jerusalem. He then made Jerusalem his capital and built up the city (2 Samuel 5:9).
Jerusalem was an excellent choice for a capital city because it stood on the border between the northern and southern tribes and helped unite the kingdom. It also had a valuable water supply from the Gihon spring. By capturing a city that had resisted conquest by the Israelites before, David established control of Jerusalem and demonstrated his power and leadership.
David Brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem
After David became established in Jerusalem, one of the first things he did was bring the Ark of the Covenant there. The Ark contained the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments and was a visible symbol of God’s presence with Israel. Under David’s orders, the Ark was carried into Jerusalem and placed inside the tent he made for it (2 Samuel 6:17).
Having the Ark in Jerusalem helped establish it as a center for Israel’s worship of God. Later David desired to build a permanent temple in Jerusalem to replace the portable tent containing the Ark (2 Samuel 7:1-2). Although David did not construct the temple himself, bringing the Ark to occupy the most important place in the nation’s political and spiritual life identified Jerusalem as the central location for Israel’s worship.
David Established His Dynasty in Jerusalem
As well as being a political and religious center, Jerusalem was the city from which David established his dynasty. After he became king over Israel and Judah, David consolidated his rule in Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 11:4-9). He built up the fortifications and infrastructure of the city to house his government and administration.
David had many sons but chose Solomon to succeed him as king in Jerusalem (1 Kings 1:28-40). By establishing Jerusalem as the royal seat where his heir would rule, David founded a dynasty of kings over Israel and Judah that lasted some four hundred years. His descendants followed his example in ruling from Jerusalem, so the city became identified with the Davidic monarchy.
Jerusalem Expanded Greatly Under David’s Rule
When David captured Jerusalem, it was a small Jebusite town limited to the hill called Zion. But during David’s reign, the city expanded greatly to accommodate his government and the increasing population (1 Chronicles 11:8). He built up Jerusalem into a major city with fortifications, palaces, and administrative buildings.
It became a cosmopolitan city attracting people from across Israel and other nations as well. Its growth reflected the increasing power of David’s kingdom. So as a great city, Jerusalem was a monument to the golden age of the Davidic empire. David built the foundations that his son Solomon would build on to make Jerusalem one of the renowned cities of the ancient Near East.
David Defended Jerusalem Against Attack
As the capital city of Israel, Jerusalem was vulnerable to attack from hostile neighboring nations. On several occasions, David successfully defended Jerusalem against assault and capture. For example, the Philistines heard David had been made king in Jerusalem and came to attack him, but David and his men defeated them (2 Samuel 5:17-21).
Later when the Ammonites mistreated friendly envoys from David and gathered for war, David and his army left Jerusalem to rout the Ammonites and their Syrian allies (2 Samuel 10). As the head of his kingdom in Jerusalem, David ensured the protection and safety of the capital city from foreign enemies.
The Site of the Temple in Jerusalem Was Chosen by David
Although David did not construct the temple in Jerusalem during his reign, he did lay the plans for it and choose the site. He designated Mount Moriah as the location for the future temple his son Solomon would build (1 Chronicles 22:1). It was also called the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
David paid for the site and even made preparations for the temple by amassing great stores of materials for its construction (1 Chronicles 22:2-5). Although David could not build the temple himself, choosing the site in Jerusalem determined it would be the focal point of Israel’s worship. The temple built there would be known as the house of the Lord in the city of David (2 Chronicles 3:1).
David Kept His Palace in Jerusalem
As Israel’s political capital, Jerusalem was the location where King David built his royal palace and housed his government. He lived in “the city of David” which may have been the fortress of Zion he captured originally (1 Kings 2:10). King Solomon would later expand the royal precinct in Jerusalem with his own palace and temple (1 Kings 7:1).
But David established the precedent of ruling from Jerusalem and administering justice from there for all Israel (2 Samuel 8:15). His palace symbolized the political authority that emanated from Jerusalem to the rest of the kingdom. So the city became identified with the Davidic monarchy ruling over Israel.
David Was Buried in Jerusalem
After ruling Israel for forty years from Jerusalem, King David died and was buried there. His tomb was in “the city of David” (1 Kings 2:10). Many of the kings later buried in Jerusalem were also buried there to associate themselves with David and gain legitimacy for their rule.
The fact that David was laid to rest in Jerusalem cemented its status as the royal city tied to his legacy. Future kings ruling in Jerusalem gained prestige and credibility by being successors to the great King David whose tomb was in their capital. So Jerusalem remained known as the city of David long after his death.
Jerusalem Became Known as the Place Chosen by God
As well as David’s political accomplishments, Jerusalem gained spiritual significance during his reign from the presence of the Ark of the Covenant and David’s preparations to build the temple there. Bringing the Ark to rest in Jerusalem lent divine approval to the city as the central place for Israel’s worship.
The Book of Psalms which David is traditionally credited with composing frequently refers to the blessings God bestowed on Jerusalem and its favored status (see Psalms 48,122,125,128,132,133). The city where David ruled came to be regarded as the place God had chosen for Himself. This spiritual privilege augmented Jerusalem’s association with David’s legacy.
Later Kings Honored David’s Link to Jerusalem
After David’s death, his son Solomon succeeded him as king in Jerusalem. Solomon built up Jerusalem extensively, including constructing the temple his father had planned (1 Kings 6). But Solomon still honored David’s connection to the city, referring to Jerusalem as “the city which King David occupied” (1 Kings 9:24).
Later kings of Judah in David’s line such as Hezekiah, Josiah, and Jehoiakim continued to rule from Jerusalem and be buried there (2 Chronicles 32:33, 2 Kings 23:30, 2 Kings 24:6). By continuing to inhabit the city of David as their capital and being buried there, these kings maintained the link between David and Jerusalem.
David’s Lineage Was Critical to Jerusalem’s Status
Zerubbabel was a descendant of David who led the Jews back from exile in Babylon to Judah and became governor there under the Persian king. His Davidic ancestry was key to being viewed as a legitimate ruler in Jerusalem by the returning exiles (Haggai 1:1, Haggai 2:23).
During the Hasmonean and Herodian periods when there were no Davidic-line kings, Jerusalem still maintained its prestige due to its history as the city of David. The legacy of David continued to validate Jerusalem as the capital for Jewish rulers who were not his direct descendants.
Jesus Was Born of David’s Line and Presented as Messianic King in Jerusalem
Jesus was born into the line of David as the adopted son of Joseph who was from David’s lineage (Matthew 1:1-17, Luke 2:4). When Jesus made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, he was greeted with the messianic acclamation “Hosanna to the Son of David!” (Matthew 21:9). This recognized him as the heir to the Davidic dynasty.
Although Jesus’ kingdom was not of this earth (John 18:36), he was still identified with David’s royal city. Jesus upheld Jerusalem’s spiritual status but prophesied its coming destruction because it did not ultimately acknowledge his Messianic rule (Matthew 23:37-24:2).
David’s Example Inspired Future Rulers of Jerusalem
Why did Jerusalem become known as the city of David? As the first native Israelite king to conquer the city and make it his capital, David turned Jerusalem into the premier city of his kingdom. It was the center of political, religious, and spiritual life for Israel.
David’s name became synonymous with Jerusalem through his military conquest of it, bringing the Ark of the Covenant there, ruling from Jerusalem as Israel’s king, choosing the future site of the temple there, defending Jerusalem from enemies, and being buried in the city after his death.
Later kings wanted to associate themselves with the great King David by continuing to inhabit and build up Jerusalem as their capital. But no other figure was tied to Jerusalem’s identity like David, its first Israelite king. David established Jerusalem’s importance, so it was fittingly remembered as the city of David.
